Breast imaging bolsters care
Aurora Imaging Technology (Booth #6552) is introducing its SpiralRODEO breast MRI technology for use with the company’s Aurora 1.5T Dedicated breast MRI system. SpiralRODEO’s features improved acquisition efficiency [three times greater than traditional 3D Fourier transformation (3DFT) reconstruction] with increased resolution for better dynamics. Aurora claims that this new technology offers signal improvement comparable with that of 4.5T.BioLucent (Booth #8009) is exhibiting two new designs for the MammoPad breast cushion, as well as the new SAVI device, a multi-catheter applicator providing single-entry breast brachytherapy.
The FDA-cleared MammoPad is specially designed for use on all digital mammography equipment and is larger than other versions to fit the larger surfaces of digital mammography devices.
BioLucent also is exhibiting its “New for Gamma” MammoPad, specifically designed for use with the Dilon 6800 Gamma Camera. Dilon Technologies manufactures the Dilon 6800 Gamma Camera for use during breast-specific gamma imaging.
The FDA-cleared SAVI device combines the tissue-sparing dosimetry of interstitial brachytherapy with the single-entry ease of intracavitary ("balloon") brachytherapy. SAVI's multi-catheter, expandable applicator delivers a conformal, precisely targeted dose of radiation.
BRIT Systems (Booth #1915) is launching its multi-modality mammography workstation, BRIT Vision, for use with any FDA-cleared full-field digital mammography system (FFDM) or with digitized film from a film-screen system. The tools developed for mammography will be made available in all other BRIT Systems diagnostic and viewers. In addition to serving as an easy-to-use, multipurpose viewer for any DICOM conformant exam, the BRIT Vision workstation will provide mammography-specific reading tools, including support for CAD overlays, over-reading tools with statistics, special hot-keys and icons, and animated hanging protocols. Color images, particularly those from ultrasound, can be viewed on the workstation with BRIT’s standard two portrait grayscale and one landscape color monitor configuration.
Cedara Software (Booth #4716) is featuring its I-ReadMammo soft-copy reading workstation designed for breast imaging. Ideal for OEM/VARs interested in expanding their workstation capability, I-ReadMammo has outstanding image quality, performance, and tailored workflow design. I-ReadMammo enables radiologists to optimize their reading speed and improve patient care. It eliminates the hassle of switching between different workstations through vendor independence and multi-modality support. It also saves radiologist reading time by allowing individual users to prescribe image layout, presentation, and view order, the company says. I-ReadMammo supports CAD markers for mammography, MRI, and ultrasound from a variety of different vendors and is an integrated PACS application using C4.
DatCard Systems (Booth #6738) is showcasing Mammo-Smart, a new means of providing patients with their complete mammography history and breast care information on an automatically produced CD-R/DVD-R. Each disc contains patient information such as medical history, digital mammography images, glossary of terms, answers to frequently asked questions, live video capture, personal demographics, and insurance information. MammoSmart integrates with hospital registration, PACS, and RIS/mammography systems to provide a seamless workflow process.Fuji Medical Systems USA (Booth #7130) is showcasing its Fuji Computed Radiography for Mammography (FCRm), a digital mammography technology. It is the only FDA-approved, CR-based FFDM system. FCRm offers two options to meet varied throughput and workflow needs: the ClearView-1m single-plate reader can be used in an exam room, while the ClearView-CSm multi-plate reader can accommodate the volume of up to three screening rooms. FCRm also provides 18 cm x 24 cm and 24 cm x 30 cm fields of view and 50-micron pixel sampling.
GE Healthcare (Booth #7164) is showcasing its portfolio of mammography products including the GE Senographe digital mammography system. The company’s latest full-field digital mammo platform Senographe Essentials includes a 24 x 31 cm active field of for precision-image on virtually any woman, in a single exposure per view. The platform also includes a single amorphous silicon flat panel digital detector, with a clinically optimized needle-structured CsI scintillator layer which is characterized by high modulation transfer function (MTF), fast readout, high detective quantum efficiency (DQE) and low noise. Additionally, the streamlined ergonomic design of the system’s gantry is targeted for high throughput.
Hologic (Booth #7730) — which this year acquired R2 Technology and Suros Surgical Systems — is featuring the newly enhanced Selenia FFDM system and new features for the SecurViewDX diagnostic workstations. Selenia uses selenium-based direct capture technology that eliminates light diffusion completely improved clarity and image quality. Selenia incorporates Hologic’s patented HTC grid technology that reduces radiation scatter for better contrast. The system also features a large Selenia detector capable of imaging almost any breast without requiring multiple exposures.
SecurViewDX can display digital mammograms from any vendor, locate regions of interest using sophisticated CAD tools, and view current and prior mammograms alongside breast images from MRI, PET, and ultrasound with seamless file sharing. The workstation automatically recognizes the breast imaging procedure based on procedure name or image content. New to the workstation are a limitless number of image hanging protocols based on individual preferences. Images can be manipulated and annotations added intuitively. The new software release also is designed to handle breast tomosynthesis images and 2D images. Also, thanks to the acquisition of R2, all of the features of the Citra software package are being added to SecurViewDX, which is pending regulatory approval.
Hologic is showcasing upright and prone stereotactic breast biopsy solutions including the MultiCare Platinum stereotactic biopsy system. The Suros ATEC automated tissue excision and collection system has been optimized for use with the Hologic MultiCare Platinum prone and StereoLoc II upright biopsy systems. The Suros ATEC breast biopsy and excision system offers diverse needle options to accommodate a wide variety of patient presentations.
The ATEC Emerald is designed specifically for clinicians requiring a more mobile solution to perform MRI-guided breast biopsy and for facilities with dedicated breast MRI programs. The ATEC Emerald is MRI-specific and allows for a 30-minute MRI-guided breast biopsy on biopsy patients with multiple lesions in a single gadolinium injection session.
Lastly, Hologic is showing again this year as works in progress its work in breast tomosynthesis. The company has six facilities gathering images for their FDA submission. Cases will be shown and booth visitors can try their hand at reading 2D and 3D images of the same patient to see if they can find a difference in cancer detection rates.
Mammography Reporting System (MRS; Booth #3214) is previewing at RSNA its soon-to-be-released Interactive Patient History Collection System. After the patient enters her history into a tablet/kiosk PC, it is then downloaded into MRS and available for viewing and verification.Merge eMed’s (Booth # 4707) is highlighting its MergeMammo based on Cedara I-ReadMammo technology. MergeMammo is an FDA-approved workstation software application for digital reading and review of mammography images. It is a multi-modality, vendor-neutral digital mammography workstation, which means that an organization can display images from different mammography systems simultaneously and read all of their breast imaging studies on a single workstation, including images from the newly approved CR for mammography. A number of works-in-progress developments – planned for release in 2006 – are being showcased as part of MergeMammo Version 7.0, including:
- Improved full-resolution viewing. A digital breast image, in full resolution, is larger than a computer screen. This new functionality is designed to enable the radiologist to move from section to section in full resolution to ensure complete review of the entire image;
- Merge eMed offers new algorithm-driven isolation of the breast image, which will be able to fit the image to the display so that a radiologist immediately sees the image at maximum size; and
- Improved inverted imaging. Some radiologists use inversion technique when reading images, converting black to white and white to black. Merge eMed offers a new feature that enables conversion of white (the breast image) to black, while maintaining background (non breast image) as black.
Naviscan PET Systems (Booth #8335) is introducing a new design for the company’s PET device, the PEM Flex Solo II PET scanner. The system has an in-plane resolution of 1.5 to 2.0 mm. Additonally, the device offers sensitivity and specificity for characterizing suspicious lesions at more than 90 percent, and it has positive predictive value of 92 percent for identifying breast cancer. Solo II includes improvements such as higher rate count sensitivity, a newly added articulating arm, a motorized C-arm, and compression capability designed to enable technologists to more easily position optimal views and grants better chest wall access.
Planmed (Booth #6920) is showing a product line designed to meet high-volume imaging demands in either a fixed setting or on location with the Battery Pack Mobile System. Planmed Nuance for full field digital mammography, pending FDA clearance, also is being exhibited.
Quest International (Booth #8510) is announcing that the Totoku ME551i2, 5-megapixel display has been granted 510(k) approval by the FDA for use in all digital mammography applications. The ME551i2 is a 21.3-inch, 5-megapixel, DICOM-compliant diagnostic display with an 11.9-bit grayscale palette and 750 cd/m2 brightness. In addition, the λ-Uniformity Matrix luminance equalization feature achieves highly accurate luminance uniformity across the screen. Another notable characteristic of ME551i2 is its display accuracy control capability. The λ-Sentinel II photometer is mounted in front of the screen and monitors the backlight constantly to accurately stabilize luminance. λ-Sentinel II uses this data, as well as internal temperature data, to quickly stabilize calibrated luminance and maintain it for tens of thousands of hours. Totoku’s comprehensive product line of DICOM-compliant medical displays ranges from 1.3 to 5 megapixel, grayscale and color, and are available in single- and multi-head configurations. Sectra (Booth #6506) is presenting its latest innovations within tomosynthesis as works in progress as well as work in photon-counting technology. Sectra MicroDose Mammo-graphy outside of the United States is maximizing image quality, increasing throughput, and providing the lowest radiation dose on the market. Sectra is demonstrating a total mammography solution with proven performance, including a mammography stand, a PACS dedicated to breast imaging, and a distinctive integration capability with information systems.
Siemens Medical Solutions (Booth #4114) is showcasing the Mammomat NovationDR, which provides digital screening, diagnosis, and stereotactic biopsy capabilities — all in one system. The system utilizes syngo MammoReport, a dedicated soft-copy reporting workstation that allows ultra-fast loading times. A case with eight images can load in less than one second.